Wildlife, wine, nature, hawks, falcons, and owls, oh my! On Saturday, March 7 from 5:30 to 8 p.m., spend an evening with magnificent birds of prey. Mingle with owls, hawks and one beautiful eagle while enjoying a complimentary glass of wine and light hors d’oeuvres. Other beverages will be available for purchase. Enter to win fabulous raffle prizes with the proceeds to go to the Wildlife Care Association. Tickets are $25 in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door. Purchase online at highhand.com or in person at High Hand Nursery, which is located at 3750 Taylor Road, Loomis. For more information, call 652-2065.
The Wildlife Care Association assists Mother Nature all through private donations. The Wildlife Care Association is a non-profit group that helps heal the birds that fall from nests, critters hit by cars or wildlife that needs a little human help to survive in our world. Help keep the mission active and wildlife alive by attending this special benefit at the High Hand Nursery. The “Wings and Wine 2015” event offers a taste of the “wild life” in wineglasses and keeps “wildlife” alive by assisting the nonprofit group.
For more information on helping support wildlife care or to become a volunteer, call the Wildlife Care Association at 965-WILD or visit www.wildlifecareassociation.com

]]>http://www.valcomnews.com/?feed=rss2&p=164930Arden Hills was training place of swimming dynasty - By LANCE ARMSTRONGhttp://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16488
http://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16488#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 19:20:12 +0000Anninhttp://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16488
Former Carmichael resident Mike Burton was once Arden Hills’ best known swimmer. / Photo courtesy of Arden Hills
Many Olympic swimmers were trained in competitive swimming at the Arden Hills Swimming and Tennis Club. The photograph above shows one of the many swimming meets that was held at the club. / Photo courtesy of Arden Hills
Note: [...]]]>

Former Carmichael resident Mike Burton was once Arden Hills’ best known swimmer. / Photo courtesy of Arden Hills

Many Olympic swimmers were trained in competitive swimming at the Arden Hills Swimming and Tennis Club. The photograph above shows one of the many swimming meets that was held at the club. / Photo courtesy of Arden Hills

Note: This is the fifth article in a series about the Arden Hills wellness resort.

During its lengthy history, Arden Hills has been the training place of many fine athletes, including 10 Olympic swimmers.
Certainly, when many people think of Arden Hills’ history, they first think of swimmers Mark Spitz and Debbie Meyer, who were featured in the last article of this series.
But the history of this facility, which is located near the northwest corner of Fair Oaks Boulevard and Mission Avenue, extends well beyond those famous Olympians.
Overshadowed by Spitz’s Olympic accomplishments is Mike Burton, another well-known, former Olympic swimmer, who trained at Arden Hills.
But those who are familiar with Burton’s success as a swimmer know that he was once Arden Hills’ best known swimmer.
In fact, former Arden Hills swim coach Sherman Chavoor at one point claimed that Burton was this community’s best all-time swimmer.
But Burton, who graduated from El Camino High School in 1965, was not an instant success as a swimmer.
When he was 13 years old, Burton was riding his bicycle when he was hit by a furniture delivery truck and had a tendon severed below one of his knees and the ball joint of one of his hips pushed into his ribs.
Burton spent a month in the hospital and was laid up for about four months.
A year after doctors determined that he would likely never be able to compete in sports again, Burton opted to become a competitive swimmer.
When he was 15 years old, Burton began working with Chavoor at Arden Hills.
Initially struggling as a competitive swimmer, Burton was then unable to win competitions against the club’s female swimmers.
Burton’s determination to win, led him to constant improvements and eventual Olympic qualifications.
Prior to becoming an Olympian, in 1966, the then-5-foot-10-inch, 155-pound Burton joined weightlifter Tommy Kono as the only other local athlete to set a world record.
Burton would end that year having set two world records and one national record and being named the United Press International’s Swimmer of the Year and The Sacramento Union’s Athlete of the Year.
Burton, who would set many swimming records, resided in Carmichael before attending the University of California, Los Angeles on a swimming scholarship.
An article in the Aug. 14, 1967 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle notes that Burton had broken the world 1,500-meter mark in successive Amateur Athletic Union meets.
Like Spitz and Meyer, Burton was also a multiple, Olympic gold medalist.
Burton won two gold medals in the 1968 Summer Olympics and another gold medal in the 1972 Summer Games in Munich, West Germany.
Another big name in Arden Hills swimming history is Sue Pedersen.
Pedersen, who was born in Sacramento, was already being considered as a possible future Olympic swimmer when she was 13 years old.
At that time in her life, Pedersen, who was then attending St. Ignatius School at 3245 Arden Way and was a member of the Arden Hills Swim Club, had already set nine AAU Junior Olympics records.
She also won three AAU titles and three silver medals at the Pan American Games in 1967.
At the age of 14, Pedersen was among the Arden Hills swimmers to earn a spot on the 1968 Chavoor-coached U.S. Olympic women’s swim team.
During the 1968 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Los Angeles, Pedersen won the 100-meter freestyle finals in 59 seconds. And at the same time, she set a new U.S. record in that event.
Prior to Pedersen’s record setting mark, only four women had ever completed the event under one minute. One of those women was Arden Hills’ swimmer Erika Bricker, who was the 1967 titlist of the Pan American Games.
And while competing in those Olympics, Pedersen, who was then a student at Rio Americano High School, earned four medals – two golds and two silvers.
Furthermore, the Chavoor-coached women’s team won 65 percent of the medals won by the U.S. at the 1968 Olympics.
A downtown celebration was held in honor of the returning Olympians, who were residents of the Sacramento area at that time. They were: Pedersen (double gold and single silver medalist), Meyer (triple gold medalist), Burton (double gold medalist), John Ferris (double bronze medalist) and Vicki King (1,500-meter alternate).
During the celebratory event, Vice Mayor Albert Talkin said, “You have brought glory to Sacramento. We haven’t had anything like this since the Gold Rush. If people don’t know where Sacramento is now, they’ll never know.”
Other local residents who participated in the 1968 Olympics were U.S. kayak team crew members Cleve and Mike Livingston.
In presenting this story of Arden Hills’ Olympic swimmers, it is certainly important to name John Nelson, the club’s first Olympic medalist.
Nelson, who attended Yale University, earned a silver medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle event at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
In the 1968 Summer Olympics, Nelson was a teammate of Spitz on the gold medal winning, 4-by-200-meter freestyle relay team. And Nelson also earned a bronze medal in the 200-meter freestyle.
Another former Arden Hills swimmer, Ellie Daniel, was a two-time Olympian and world record holder.
She competed in the 1968 Summer Games and earned a gold medal in the 4-by-100-medley relay, a silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly and a bronze medal in the 200-meter butterfly.
In 1972, Daniel competed in the Summer Olympics and received a bronze medal for her third place finish in the 200-meter butterfly.
Today, Daniel serves as a prosecutor with the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Among the other Olympic swimmers who trained at Arden Hills were Sacramento natives John Ferris (two bronze medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics; former world record holder) and Dave Fairbank (two gold medals at the 1972 Summer Games; former world record holder).
Arden Hills had no Olympic qualifiers for the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, and only one for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. That one qualifier was Jeff Float.
Although Float was denied an opportunity to compete in the Moscow Olympics due to the American boycott of those Games, he did qualify for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
During the latter named Olympics, Float, a former world champion swimmer, won a gold medal in the 4-by-200-meter freestyle relay.
Float, a graduate of Jesuit High School, has the notoriety of being the first legally deaf, American athlete to win an Olympic medal.
Another one of Float’s many accomplishments as a swimmer was winning a gold medal in all of the 10 events that he competed in at the 1977 World Games for the Deaf in Bucharest, Romania.
Altogether, Arden Hills-trained swimmers earned 32 Olympic medals, 22 of which were gold medals, and set more than 200 U.S. and world swimming records.

]]>http://www.valcomnews.com/?feed=rss2&p=164880El Camino Fundamental High School Theater Arts Department announces its up-coming production of Kiss Me, Kate!http://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16484
http://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16484#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 19:14:42 +0000Anninhttp://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16484
El Camino Fundamental High School (ECFHS) Theater Arts Department will present Cole Porter’s
musical “Kiss Me, Kate” at the Eagle Theater located on the ECFHS campus.
The play runs March 4-7 and 11-14. Show time is 7 p.m.
“Kiss Me, Kate,” is a play within a play that follows an acting company opening in Baltimore in a
musical version [...]]]>

El Camino Fundamental High School (ECFHS) Theater Arts Department will present Cole Porter’s
musical “Kiss Me, Kate” at the Eagle Theater located on the ECFHS campus.
The play runs March 4-7 and 11-14. Show time is 7 p.m.
“Kiss Me, Kate,” is a play within a play that follows an acting company opening in Baltimore in a
musical version of The Taming of the Shrew. The company’s actor-director has
cast his ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi, as Kate opposite his Petruchio, with all its
attendant baggage and conflicting emotions.
The show features Adam Severeid as Fred Graham; Natalie Meagher as Lilli Vanessi; Chris Harley as Bill Calhoun; and Jessica Padilla as Lois Lane. Musical Direction is under Kevin Glaser; vocal direction by David Vanderbout; choreography by Sarah Souther and Sam Williams; and Production Direction by Ed Santillanes.
“Kiss Me, Kate combines great energy, musical exuberance, and superb wit making it one of the
most admired musicals of all time,” states show producer, Ed Santillanes.
“Let’s not forget to mention the music,” interjects musical director, Kevin Glaser. The audience
will enjoy some of musical theatre’s most famous songs and Cole Porter at his very best, like:
“So in Love,” “Another Op’nin’ Another Show,” “Too Darn Hot,” and “Brush Up Your
Shakespeare,” to name a few.
Because of the story’s widespread appeal, organizers anticipate large crowds for “Kiss Me,
Kate” and encourage the community to get their tickets early.
“The students (both on stage and off) have worked many long hours to put on a great show. It
means so much to see the entire community support us in such a huge way. Our cast and crew
can’t wait to share this production with them,” says Santillanes.
Parents spoke with a few of the actors who had the following to share for the purpose of this article.

Samantha Cullifer:

“I love the people that I am working with, the music, and all of the dancing! I have done 37 roles in 20 ballet productions. I am planning on perusing a career in musical theater and other types of acting.”

Alyse Simmons-Batholome:

“I love the people that I get to work with and all the new techniques that I learn and can use in the future. This is the second show I have performed in and the sixth show I have worked on. I am planning on performing arts career.”

Chris Harley:

“Besides attending several professional musicals and theatrical productions, I have never personally performed or studied theater arts before. After working back-stage last season, I got to know many of the cast members and liked everyone so well I decided to give the front side of the curtain a try! They are all a very supportive group. Although I do not expect to go into the performing arts as a career, I am really glad to have this opportunity to participate and now have a much greater appreciation of what it takes to put together a production.”
Tickets available at the door on show nights or can be purchased through Brown Paper
Tickets (bpt) at ecfhstheaterarts.bpt.me. The El Camino Fundamental High School Eagle Theater is located at 4300 El Camino Ave. Additional questions regarding the performance can be emailed toelcaminotheaterarts@gmail.com or call 971-7453.

]]>http://www.valcomnews.com/?feed=rss2&p=164840Gym class gets new digs at Arden Middle School - By Tiffany Revellehttp://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16474
http://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16474#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 19:04:17 +0000Anninhttp://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16474
Students at Arden Middle School have a new gym, which they celebrated with various rallies and fun activities on Jan. 22. /All photos by Stephen Crowley
Thanks to the school’s new $5.5 million multi-purpose room, all 950 of the students at Arden Middle School can now eat lunch together, and without having to deflect errant [...]]]>

Students at Arden Middle School have a new gym, which they celebrated with various rallies and fun activities on Jan. 22. /All photos by Stephen Crowley

Thanks to the school’s new $5.5 million multi-purpose room, all 950 of the students at Arden Middle School can now eat lunch together, and without having to deflect errant basket balls, among other benefits.
“For events, we couldn’t fit all the kids in at one time,” principal Jeff Banks said. “When we had an assembly we had to split the students in half, and people were packed in and had to sit on the floor.”
Before the grand opening on Jan. 21, the school had to break students up into two groups for rallies and had two different lunch periods. Each lunch period also shared the space with a P.E. class. One student who took the stage – also a feature of the new gym – at the grand opening celebration said the new gym meant she could eat lunch with her friends.
The smaller gym had a capacity of just fewer than 450, while the new one can accommodate more than 1,000 people, according to Banks.
The new gym is not only a high school size basketball and volleyball court (complete with six basketball hoops), but also features a stage with lighting and a sound system, 10 rows of bleacher seating and an outdoor stage.
“This is more than what (the San Juan Unified School District students) are used to seeing in this area,” Banks said.
The gym was funded by Measure J, a $350 million bond measure voters approved in 2002.
Banks says that, among other things, the new space means the students will see performing arts classes phased in over the next few years, including expanded theater and arts programs, and hopefully a choir class next year. The new space “more than doubles” the school’s existing arts and performing arts classes, according to Banks – a proposition he hopes will keep students engaged and looking forward to school.
“The more students you can have coming to school, the greater chance you have for student success,” he said.
Banks also expects to make the space available to the community as a venue, and specifically to youth recreational leagues and drama clubs, potentially generating revenue for the school district.
The long-awaited project comes with a parking lot expansion, a new kitchen and cafeteria tables as well.
“I think it’s great,” said Bonnie Reynolds, the school’s retired secretary of 36 years, who was among the onlookers at the students vs. faculty basketball at the grand opening. “It’s beautiful, and this has been a dream since I started here in 1974.”
Back then, she said, there was no gym. Then the school’s enrollment eventually grew too big for the one that was built, and the school couldn’t even host its own graduation ceremonies.
“For this school to be able to have a facility like this has been many people’s dreams,” said Reynolds, whose tenure spanned five principals’ times at the school.

Children's musician Mister Cooper with his fans from Tiny Tots preschool in Land Park. The group of pirates got together to sing some tunes from Pirate Ship, Mister Cooper's latest album. / Photo by Monica Stark

Hailed by children at Tiny Tots Preschool in William Land Park, “Pirate Ship”, the new album by Land Park children’s musician Mister Cooper, includes eight Mother Goose rhymes, the title track, and a song about the adventures of a doodle bug.
With many songs kids already know, Mister Cooper mixes in a lot of fun little lines here and there, adding in what he calls, “some new information.” What happens to Humpty Dumpty after he fell off the wall? Well, he says, that’s for the children to find out.
Mister Cooper created a catchy version of “Hey, Diddle Diddle” that is set to the tune of Hank Williams Sr.’s “Hey, Good Lookin’.” With a steel guitar and a pedal, Mister Cooper’s adaptation of the song invites audience participation with a call back of “Hey, Diddle Diddle,” something, of course children really enjoy.
Playing for little ones at Tiny Tots, Leonardo da Vinci Elementary School, a daycare in the Pocket area and three libraries, Mister Cooper has built up a fan base among kids, their parents and teachers who appreciate that his songs enhance their curricula.
The story behind the song, The More You Read (a song that encourages reading), has a deep Land Park community connection. “A librarian at (C.K.) McClatchy High School taught (second grade) for one year (2012-13) at Sutterville Elementary, where I sang with the kids. Her name is Donna Vann. And on the door of her room, she put the poster of that song. ‘So the more you read, the more you know.’ It had two lines. I started humming it right as soon as I read it. I didn’t get halfway down before I knew what it was going to be. But it recorded well. I’d sing it at the libraries and with the kids. They seem to go for it and it’s positive.”
Asked to describe what they like about Mister Cooper and his new album, Tiny Tots children discussed their love for the musician’s storytelling and invitations to dance along.
Declan, Faylinn, Kate and Molly reported back saying they like the freeze dancing that Mister Cooper encorporates into his program. Aleah loves “pirateship”; Santi likes “Mister Cooper’s guitar”; and Payton likes “his songs.”
While children love the pirate sounds, adults have come to enjoy the line: “My mother’s name is Margaret and the captain called her Peg.”
“Hardly any kids are called Margaret anymore and almost no one is called Peggy, so I have adults come up to me and say, I had an aunt Peggy. Her name is Margaret. That’s hysterical. I love it.”
In an interview with this publication, Ken Cooper, the name behind the moniker, discussed the making of “Pirate Ship” and his long term involvement singing at local libraries and schools.
To Ken, singing children’s songs conjures up memories of his own youth, specifically memories of his mother singing “This Little Piggy.”
“I remember the bathtub, the little portable bathtub she’d pull into the tub – that’s one of the first memories that I have of her singing that song. So then I started working on that song and after I heard it I was telling a couple of my friends that I’m starting to work up songs for Mother Goose rhymes and then people started giving me books and (saying): ‘Here, look at this website or check this out.’ I had never known that ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ had five verses in it.” But it’s the adaptation of the songs, that makes his music so inviting as he often uses the same melody but different chords, as he does in “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”
And, in the album’s title track, his voice carries like a scary pirate singing to the tunes of a sea shanty.
After 25 drafts and critiques from his most critical listeners – children at his sing-alongs – Ken is proud to say he’s happy with the results. “I just could not get it right. I had all kinds of weird stuff and the kids were going: ‘No, the captains on a ship don’t have dogs. Pirates have parrots. You got to put a parrot in. You got to take the dog out.’ So the dog was out and the parrot was in.” And, in the end,
as far as the recordings go, he said Pirate Ship is the Matilda of his latest album. Those die-hard Mister Cooper fans would recall Matilda is a singing gorilla from the CD Mister Cooper is for the Birds, which was released in 2011. Suffice to say, children love Matilda and they also love Pirate Ship.
Shortly before the interview with this publication, Mister Cooper said kids came up to him, holding their tongues, singing one of the repetitive lines: “I was born on a pirate ship.”
Mister Cooper started recording the CD at the end of June and by August the album was mixed and fixed. In November, it was sent to the manufacturer and he had copies for sale the week before Christmas.
Pirate Ship lists the following musicians as the album’s “singers and players”: Leo and Max Adams, vocal; Marisa Atha, vocals; Eric Bianchi, bass and vocal; Ethan Bianchi, vocal; Keith Cary, steel guitar;
Richie Lawrence, piano, accordion and vocal; Michelle Lewis, vocal; Scott McChane, drums and vocals; John O’Kennedy, dobro; and Mister Cooper, everything else.
In order of release date Mister Cooper’s albums include: Mister Cooper, which was released in 2006;
This World, on Jan. 1, 2009; Mister Cooper’s for the Birds, April 2011; I Like Your Hat, March or April 2013; and Pirate Ship on Jan. 6, 2015.
Asked what he has learned over the last nine years making CDs of his music, Mister Cooper said he learned patience, as it was difficult for him to wait a month between recording sessions. He wanted to say, “Let’s go! But there was scheduling. (He learned to) just let it go and not have an agenda.”
The Friends of the Pocket-Greenhaven Library and the Friends of the Belle Cooledge Library pay for the music program with Mister Cooper, but, for the Colonial Heights Public Library, Mister Cooper said despite best efforts by that branch’s Friends of the Library, there was not enough money from book sales and other fundraisers, so parents formed the Facebook group: “Mr Cooper Funding: Maintain the Weekly Music Program at Colonial Heights!” Posted on that page on Feb. 6 at 12:13 p.m.was the following announcement: “Great news! We have officially donated enough to keep the music program running through APRIL!! Amazing!”
Beaming with gratitude, Mister Cooper said the following regarding parents’ ongoing efforts: “They’re chipping in wherever they can and it seems to be working out alright. So, I’m very thankful.”

]]>http://www.valcomnews.com/?feed=rss2&p=164620Quick Lunch sign is a reminder of earlier times on Broadway - By LANCE ARMSTRONGhttp://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16458
http://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16458#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 18:41:18 +0000Anninhttp://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16458
The old, neon “Quick Lunch” sign still exists above an old restaurant building at 513 Broadway. / Photo by Lance Armstrong
Many people who are familiar with the western end of Broadway recall seeing an old, small, neon sign above a building at 513 Broadway. And for those who enjoy local history, that sign, which [...]]]>

The old, neon “Quick Lunch” sign still exists above an old restaurant building at 513 Broadway. / Photo by Lance Armstrong

Many people who are familiar with the western end of Broadway recall seeing an old, small, neon sign above a building at 513 Broadway. And for those who enjoy local history, that sign, which reads, “Quick Lunch,” is a cherished part of the community.
Additionally, the small building, on which the post of the sign is affixed, also adds character to the area.
For those who have grown fond of seeing the Quick Lunch sign and building along Broadway, the following historical summary of the site should be of interest.
At different times during the history of this Broadway site, various restaurants have operated at 513 Broadway.
A city building inspector’s card, dated Jan. 23, 1929, notes that Louis A. Rouppet, Sr. (1881-1957), then-owner of a structure at Y Street (today’s Broadway), was granted a permit to have the building’s kitchen enlarged.
In about 1930, Louis, Sr. who was a native of Savoy, France, opened an eatery at that location.
Research into Louis, Sr.’s earlier work history revealed that he had prior experience in the restaurant industry.
Louis, Sr., who had a wife named Emilie Rouppet, a daughter named Aimee C. Rouppet and sons named Louis A. Rouppet, Jr., Paul Rouppet and John Rouppet began working as a cook in Sacramento as early as 1914. His places of employment included Peerless Café at 1117 9th St. and Hotel Sacramento at 1107 10th St.
From about 1922 to about 1924, Louis, Sr. operated his own restaurant at 1005 11th St., and in at least 1925, he owned an eatery at 929 2nd St.
As for the restaurant at 513 Broadway, the earliest discovered reference to the name Quick Lunch was found in a legal notice, which includes the following words: “July 31, 1941. To whom it may concern: Notice is hereby given that fifteen days after the date posted, the undersigned (Louis, Sr.) proposes to sell alcoholic beverages at these premises, described as follows: Quick Lunch, 513 Broadway, Sacramento.”
The notice also mentions that the proposed alcoholic beer license was for the sale for “beer only.”
Quick Lunch’s next proprietor was Dora M. Allen, who resided at 1114 Yale St., which is located between Broadway and X Street and 10th Street and Riverside Boulevard, near the old city cemetery. Allen, who purchased the business in 1946, advertised her restaurant as serving “home-cooked food.”
A building inspector’s card, dated Dec. 10, 1946, notes that Electric Sign Service, a neon products business at 1315 17th St., was hired to place the aforementioned “Quick Lunch” sign at 513 Broadway.
Although Louis Rouppet sold the eatery to Allen, he remained the building’s owner and retained his home at the rear of 513 Y St. Rouppet had those sleeping quarters added to the already existing structure in 1940.
Apparently, the building’s sleeping quarters were once also available to employees of the business, as is indicated in an advertisement, which appeared in the March 5, 1941 edition of The Sacramento Bee, as follows: “Inexperienced young girl to work in small lunch room. Board, small wages. 513 Broadway.”
By 1949, the restaurant was under the ownership of James Sisto, who resided with his wife, Elsie, at 805 F St.
During the Sisto era of Quick Lunch, the restaurant had the misfortune of being ransacked and burglarized of a watch valued at $105 and $30 from its vending machines.
Although it was reported in The Bee that a 22-year-old local parolee, who had served two years in prison for burglary, admitted to the robbery about a month later, it was not discovered during research for this article if the watch or money was returned.
On Nov. 22, 1950, a day prior to Thanksgiving, The Bee ran the following advertisement: “Turkey dinners, $1, with all the trimmings. We bake our own pies. Quick Lunch, 513 Broadway.”
The eatery’s next proprietor was Phyllis C. LeCastro, who acquired the business in about 1951.
From June 1 through Oct. 16, 1954, the restaurant site, with its 18 counter seats, was vacant and advertised for rent in The Bee.
Quick Lunch was purchased by Okla and Dana E. Wright in about November 1954.
About a year later, the old, 14-foot by 20-foot corrugated iron Quick Lunch building was torn down and its materials were placed for sale to the public.
A new, 16-foot by 40-foot building was constructed, and made available for lease in December 1955.
In about 1956, Bernard E. Swope, who resided with his wife, Barbara, at 1614 G St., Apt. 1, opened Bar-Bee Lunch restaurant at the 513 Broadway building.
A year later, John B. and Jeane Sells acquired the dining spot and began running their own restaurant, which they called The Quick Lunch.
In 1959, while The Quick Lunch was still in operation on Broadway, a Quick Lunch restaurant opened at the former site of Eugene I. Jensen’s business, Gene’s Coffee Shop, at 1413 21st St.
The 21st Street Quick Lunch, which was originally owned by Aldo and Joan Bellettini, who resided at 2019 I St., remained in business for an entire decade.
This 21st Street business was owned by Joan Achor in 1960 and Andrew and Helen Mackis from 1961 to at least 1965.
While under the management of Leo Tagawa in 1966 and 1967, the 21st Street eatery was known as Leo’s Quick Lunch.
Tagawa was replaced as manager in 1967 by Geraldine M. Budmark, as Tagawa became a chef at El Rancho Bowl at 900 West Capitol Ave. in West Sacramento.
The 21st Street Quick Lunch closed in 1969, and today, the 21st Street site is home to Jalapeño’s restaurant, which opened in 2001.
In continuing with the history of 513 Broadway, Lucille Satos became the proprietor of The Quick Lunch in 1966, and she remained the restaurant’s owner until 1969, when Budmark purchased the business.
Later proprietors of this eatery were Ruby D. Wendt, who purchased the business in 1973, and Dan Y. and Lilly Chan, who became the restaurant’s owners in 1979.
The Quick Lunch remained in business until about 1992.
During its latter Quick Lunch years, the eatery was known as Kim’s Quick Lunch Vietnamese Restaurant.
Other eateries that later operated at that site were Arandas (Mexican food), Edokko Japanese Noodle Restaurant & Kitchen, Sim’s Diner, Sim’s Soul Food and Curtis’s Hole in the Wall.

]]>http://www.valcomnews.com/?feed=rss2&p=164580Annual Theater Series at Fairytale Town - Theater performances held March through August http://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16452
http://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16452#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 18:36:25 +0000Anninhttp://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16452
Br'er Rabbit-Magical Moonshine Theatre
Shown here are characters from Fratello Marionettes' The Frog Prince, which will be performed at Fairytale Town on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8.
Fairytale Town will showcase a diverse selection of theater performances for children and families on the first weekend of each month from March through August and the second [...]]]>

Br'er Rabbit-Magical Moonshine Theatre

Shown here are characters from Fratello Marionettes' The Frog Prince, which will be performed at Fairytale Town on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8.

Fairytale Town will showcase a diverse selection of theater performances for children and families on the first weekend of each month from March through August and the second weekend in July. Performing companies include the Fratello Marionettes, Puppet Art Theater Company, Magical Moonshine Theatre, The Puppet Company and Sean’s Shadows.

“Fairytale Town is home to one of the oldest theaters in Sacramento built specifically for children and used for children’s theater productions,” said Kathy Fleming, executive director of Fairytale Town. “Thousands of children have had their first experience with live theater in the Children’s Theater, and we are excited to continue that legacy for today’s children.”

The Fratello Marionettes will kick off the series the weekend of March 7 and 8 with the Grimm brothers’ classic story of “The Frog Prince.” The Danville-based Fratello Marionettes produce marionette shows using the cabaret style of manipulation and have entertained audiences since 1989.

On April 4 and 5, Magical Moonshine Theatre will present “Tales of Br’er Rabbit,” the traditional African American stories featuring Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear, with large table-top puppets, a live banjo and singing. Based in Vallejo, Magical Moonshine Theatre has been recognized for fine quality programming with an emphasis on puppetry, masks and music since 1979.

Puppet Art Theater Company will present a zany, updated version of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” the weekend of May 2 and 3. The Sacramento-based Puppet Art Theater Company performs hundreds of live performances for family audiences at theaters, festivals and public events all over California.

On June 6 and 7, The Puppet Company will perform a traditional African folktale, “Anansi, the Spider,” using hand and rod puppets with authentic African music, colorful costuming and classical African design. Based in the Bay Area, The Puppet Company was created by Randal Metz and has been producing imaginative family entertainment for more than 30 years.

On July 11, 30 aspiring young performers from I Can Do That/Arts for All will showcase a unique production at Fairytale Town as part of the Arts for All Day celebration held the same day. I Can Do That’s mission is to encourage arts appreciation, increase academic and life skills, and cultivate awareness and acceptance of children and youth with disabilities in schools and the community.

On July 12, Sean’s Shadows will present “The Bloom Tree,” a tale from China about listening to the little things in life. Sean’s Shadows, based in Humboldt County, takes their shadow plays based on stories from around the world to schools, libraries and theaters throughout Northern California.

Puppet Art Theater Company returns to wrap up the theater series with performances of “Cinderella” on Aug. 1 and 2.

All performances take place in Fairytale Town’s indoor Children’s Theater. Tickets are $2 for nonmembers, in addition to park admission, and $1 for members. Tickets can be purchased at the Fairytale Town main gate or at the entrance to the Children’s Theater 15 minutes prior to show time. Admission to the July 11 performances are free with paid park admission.

For more information, visit fairytaletown.org or call 808-7462. Theater performances are sponsored by ScholarShare College Savings Plan.

About the shows

“The Frog Prince”
Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8
Show times at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
The Grimm Brothers’ classic fairytale “The Frog Prince” comes to life through marionette puppets in this production by the Fratello Marionettes. A wicked witch has transformed a handsome prince into a frog, and he is destined to live out his life in the wishing well. While playing in the meadow, the Princess Ofelia accidentally drops her new golden ball into the well. The Princess promises to grant the frog three wishes if he will retrieve her ball. Will the Princess follow through on her promises, and will the frog turn back into the handsome Prince?

“Tales of Br’er Rabbit”
Saturday and Sunday, April 4 and 5
12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Magical Moonshine Theatre brings the traditional African American tales of Br’er Rabbit to life with humor, large table-top puppets, a live banjo and singing! Br’er Rabbit may be small, but he has his wits. That doesn’t keep him out of trouble, but does tend to get him out of it, once he gets into it. When he comes up against the likes of Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear, it turns out they are no match for the clever rabbit.

“The Boy Who Cried Wolf”
Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3
Show times at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
In this zany version of the classic tale by Puppet Art Theater Company, a boy is bored watching his lamb and decides to make things more exciting by turning on his dad’s wolf alarm, the “Wolf Alert 3000.” Tricking his dad is all fun and games until a real wolf shows up. Will the audience help the boy escape from the wolf?

“Anansi, the Spider”
Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7
Show times at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
In the jungles of Africa lives a tiny spider known as Anansi. Believing the children of Earth need stories to tell each other, he begins a quest to get the golden box of stories from Nyami, the sky god. This story is presented by The Puppet Company using hand and rod puppets with authentic African music, colorful costuming and classical African design.

“Arts for All Presents”
Saturday, July 11
Show times at 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Thirty aspiring young performers with and without disabilities will showcase a unique production at Fairytale Town as part of Arts for All Day, presented by I Can Do That/Arts for All.

“The Bloom Tree”
Sunday, July 12
Show times at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Sean’s Shadows presents “The Bloom Tree,” a tale from China about listening to the little things in life featuring an unlikely group of characters working together for the common good. The show begins with a special musical presentation.

“Cinderella”
Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1 and 2
Show times at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Puppet Art Theater Company will perform the classic tale of “Cinderella.” Cinderella wants to attend the ball and dance the night away. Unfortunately her stepmother and awful stepsisters conspire against Cinderella, and it is up to her Fairy Godmother to get her to the ball.

]]>http://www.valcomnews.com/?feed=rss2&p=164520 - By Greg Brownhttp://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16449
http://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16449#commentsSat, 28 Feb 2015 00:43:46 +0000designhttp://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16449Run With a Recruiter
Like to jog through the neighborhood? Interested in law enforcement? The Sacramento Police Department hosts “Run with a Recruiter” every Friday morning at the Public Safety Center on Freeport Boulevard.
Just meet at the front doors at 6 a.m. and be ready to run.
Run with a Recruiter is a great way [...]]]>

Run With a Recruiter

Like to jog through the neighborhood? Interested in law enforcement? The Sacramento Police Department hosts “Run with a Recruiter” every Friday morning at the Public Safety Center on Freeport Boulevard.

Just meet at the front doors at 6 a.m. and be ready to run.

Run with a Recruiter is a great way to burn some carbs with Sac PD and learn about what it takes to be a police officer. You’ll also get to run along with others who have an interest in law enforcement.

And, no, they’re not running to Marie’s Donuts and back.

They run all throughout the neighborhood and try to switch it up every week, whether it’s jogging the tree-lined winding hills of South Land Park or through the foggy mist of William Land Park. Different scenery makes it more interesting. Sometimes they run near the Sacramento Zoo and do some stretching exercises at the halfway point; then head west.

Run with a Recruiter is no pressure. It’s not a race or mad dash to the finish line. It is a group activity with group exercises, which is what they do at the Sacramento Police Academy. “We try and foster that kind of community sense of exercise,” Officer Nevik told me.

Officer Nevik also said, “It’s not only meant to evaluate fitness, it’s about getting out, getting to know people, and having the opportunity to talk with other officers and other applicants in the process.”

I wonder if they’ve ever been running through Land Park and they come across a crime in progress? Some guy is hauling a big screen TV through a shattered window just when the cops and recruits come jogging up the street.

I guess I’ll have to ask them if that’s happened on the next…Run With A Recruiter. Every Friday at 6 a.m.

Dash To Marie’s For Some Donuts

Shown here is are two runners from the Fifth Annual Donut Dash, in support of Child Life Program at Sutter Children’s Center, was held on Saturday, March 9, 2013. This year’s run will be held on Saturday, March 7. The four-mile race starts and ends in William Land Park with Marie’s Donuts as a turnaround spot. / File photo by Stephen Crowley

If you like chocolate sprinkles with your run, you may want to participate in the upcoming Donut Dash March 7 in William Land Park. Run, jog, or walk two miles, chomp on some Marie’s Donuts and dash back to the finish line at William Land Park.

The Donut Dash is gluttony for a good cause.

The proceeds go to The Child Life Program at Sutter’s Children Center, which is more than a good cause. The program helps purchase iPads, video game systems, and arts and craft projects for the sick kids. Hospitals aren’t exactly an amusement park. The games and gadgets help pass the time in a fun way while children recover from their illness at the hospital.

The Donut Dash brings the local community together and has been growing every year since 2009. Last year’s Donut Dash raised $60,000 for the Child Life Program. That’s a lot of donut holes.

I asked event organizer Zack Wandell: Why Marie’s Donuts? I mean, they ARE a Land Park institution and they have delicious donuts.

Zack said, “Oh yeah. Best in town.” And Zack knows donuts.

He actually grew up in the Greenhaven-Pocket area and was always a Marie’s Donuts fan. He told me about Greenhaven Donuts and how he and his friends used to go over there after their paper routes and get the glazed; once he became a teen and was able to drive, “it was Marie’s Donuts,” he said.

For registration info go to www.donutdash.org. You can also find them on Facebook.

CPV Safeway gas station proposal still simmering

Things seem to be heating up with the Curtis Park Village development. Aren’t they always?

The latest is a mass email being circulated by Paul Petrovich to local residents about the Safeway supermarket and gas station proposal. In the email he states, “My effort to bring Safeway and its $25 per hour jobs to Curtis Park Village is in trouble.”

The hourly wage is a bit overstated. According to Glassdoor.com, the average salary for a Safeway checker is $11.27. A food clerk makes $14.27 and a head clerk can average up to $18.34 – a good hourly wage, but it’s no $25 an hour.

Looks like Petrovich is using union labor jobs as a PR tool to get the Safeway gas station approved. Will it sway public opinion? Petrovich Development hopes so.

The personal email from Paul ends with “Should I continue to fight for Safeway or give up and let a lower-wage operator take their place? This is the last issue. I don’t want to make the wrong decision.”

Some recipients weren’t too happy with the email correspondence from Paul. “How did he get my email?” one Hollywood Park resident complained. Sounds like Paul has a master list of emails he’s sending out to the outskirts of the community.

Another recipient, Dustin Dyer, wrote a scathing response to Paul: “As an attorney I do respect the tactic of misdirection in your argument to attempt to characterize the main purpose your development as an opportunity to benefit the community rather than the opportunity to maximize profits.”

The Safeway gas station is Petrovich’s last stand. Safeway and Petrovich say if they don’t get the fueling station along with the Supermarket, they can’t compete. They noted they especially can’t compete with the new Raley’s flagship market that will be taking over the old abandoned Capital Nursery spot. Steve Berndt specifically mentioned “the Raley’s fuel center” at the SCNA meeting last month. Recently, I was told there would no Raley’s gas station although there were blueprints as far back as a couple years ago. The Raley’s Development team had been scheduled to appear twice at the Land Park Neighborhood Association, but they canceled both times saying they were not ready to present to the board.

Poker-face.

I think Raley’s is waiting to see how the Safeway gas station pans out before revealing their blueprints for the new Land Park Raley’s.

The Petrovich email also suggests what will happen if Safeway and the gas station do not become part of the Curtis Park Village Development. They might have to put up with a Food Source, Winco, or the fear of all fears…a Wal-Mart.

It’s either A or B. I would think Petrovich would want his signature development to be something the entire Sacramento region would be proud of.

]]>http://www.valcomnews.com/?feed=rss2&p=164490Faces and Places Chinese New Year Celebration 2015http://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16435
http://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16435#commentsThu, 26 Feb 2015 16:45:40 +0000Anninhttp://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16435
Photos by Stephen Crowley
The Chinese New Year Celebration Association and the Sacramento Chinese Culture Foundation at Hiram Johnson High School celebrated the Year of the Goat with stage entertainment, food, arts, children’s games, martial arts, and community exhibits on Feb. 7 at Hiram Johnson High School,
6879 14th Ave.
steve@valcomnews.com
]]>

Photos by Stephen Crowley

The Chinese New Year Celebration Association and the Sacramento Chinese Culture Foundation at Hiram Johnson High School celebrated the Year of the Goat with stage entertainment, food, arts, children’s games, martial arts, and community exhibits on Feb. 7 at Hiram Johnson High School,
6879 14th Ave.

]]>http://www.valcomnews.com/?feed=rss2&p=16435010th Street Japanese area established more than a half-century ago - By LANCE ARMSTRONGhttp://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16425
http://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16425#commentsThu, 26 Feb 2015 00:59:56 +0000Anninhttp://www.valcomnews.com/?p=16425
These dolls are among the many Japanese items available at Sakura Gifts. / Photo by Lance Armstrong
Asian XII Photo 0 Pocket residents Chloe and Christine Chang hold a bowl of beef noodle soup at Taiwan Best Mart. The business, which opened in June 2012, operates in the former site of the Japanese run L & [...]]]>

These dolls are among the many Japanese items available at Sakura Gifts. / Photo by Lance Armstrong

Asian XII Photo 0 Pocket residents Chloe and Christine Chang hold a bowl of beef noodle soup at Taiwan Best Mart. The business, which opened in June 2012, operates in the former site of the Japanese run L & M Co. / Photo by Lance Armstrong

Editor’s Note: This is part 12 in a series regarding historic Asian districts of Sacramento.

Japanese history in Sacramento includes a Japanese section that was established in the vicinity of 10th Street, between T and W streets, during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Several of the businesses that have occupied addresses in that area were referred to in the previous article of this series.
The histories of various other addresses in that area are presented, as follows:

2219 10th St.

The L & M Co. relocated from Japantown to 2219 10th St. in 1959.
Originally known as L & M Cyclery, the store, which opened in about 1926, was later expanded to include other items such as electric appliances and sporting goods.
The 1927 city directory lists the Japanese-born Shuzo Nishijima (1889-1979) as the business’s owner, at 1215 4th St.
Following the internment, Shuzo reestablished his store in its previous location with the assistance of his son, Kanji Nishijima (1922-2008), who would later become the business’s sole owner.
L & M Co. remained in business on 10th Street until as late as 2002.
The present tenant at 2219 10th St. is Taiwan Best Mart.
The business, which is owned by Pocket area resident Luke Chang, carries frozen foods and offers a hot food menu that allows customers opportunities to try certain items before buying them from the store’s frozen foods section.
In speaking about her father’s business, Chloe Chang, who works in the store and attends C.K. McClatchy High School, said, “We’ve been open since June 2012 and before that we were having a private company, selling the same goods for over 12 years. And we sell the same stuff (and use) the same recipes. It’s just now we’re in an actual shop. We sell Taiwanese specialty food here. We have frozen food, as well as a hot menu and a deli.”
Another employee of the store is Chloe’s sister, Christine Chang, who graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 2008.

2221 10th St

.
Another former Japantown business, Royal Florist, was relocated from 1316 4th St. in Japantown to 2221 10th St. in about 1958.
The roots of that florist date back to about 1925, when the City Floral Shop was established at 1209 3rd St.
T. Fujimoto operated a florist at that site from about 1928 to about 1929.
During research for this chapter, the earliest reference to the name, Royal Florist, was located in the 1930 city directory.
It was about that time when Kidio Nikaido began operating a florist at the same address.
Roy M. Nikaido was a partner in the business by the following year and was the business’s sole owner by 1936.
In about 1938, Royal Florist was relocated to 1316 4th St.
Although Roy M. Nakaido was evacuated from Sacramento, along with many other Japanese, in 1942, he returned to operate Royal Florist in its former 4th Street location following World War II.
In about 1956, Roy T. Higashino became the proprietor of Royal Florist.
And as previously mentioned, the florist was relocated to 2221 10th St. in about 1958.
Higashino sold Royal Florist to Ken Furuta in about 1979, and Furuta eventually sold the shop to Al Kakishiba, who owned the business for about six months.
Lynda Tanaka, whose great-grandparents were the first of her family to come to America from Japan, acquired the business from Kakishiba in 1992, and renamed it Royal Louis Florist, in partial tribute to Louis Florist, a now defunct Sacramento business that she also owned.

2223 10th St.

Prior to World War II, George K. Nishihara operated a grocery store at 3994 2nd St. And he returned from the internment to establish a variety store at the former location of A& J Liquor Store at 1319 4th St.
In about 1948, Nishihara relocated his business to 1217 4th St., where it was known as Lion 5 & 10 Cent Store.
Due to redevelopment in Japantown, Nishara moved his store to 2223 10th St. in 1959, and the business then became known as Lion Variety.
Nishihara’s store was replaced by Hiroko Arimoto’s business, Sakura Gifts, in about 1971.
Nobuko Saiki Pang, who is a native of Tokyo, began working in the store in 1984 and has owned the business since 2002.
This Japanese gift store’s offerings include tea sets, dishes, dolls, change purses, food boxes, origami, incense, candles, festival clothing and shoes.
In speaking about the festival clothing that her store offers, Pang said, “In the summertime, we have (the Japanese Food and Cultural Bazaar) at the Buddhist church (at 2401 Riverside Blvd.) with dancing, so they have to wear (festival clothing for performances).”
Another feature of Sakura Gifts is its Japanese language book rental service, which was established in 2001.

2224 10th St.

The address, 2224 10th St., dates back to the late 1950s.
A city building inspector’s card, dated Nov. 20, 1958, notes that the Pacific Neon Co. at 719 12th St. had been contracted to place a sign for the business, Miyakawa Real Estate, at 2224 10th St.
The 1959 through 1962-63 city directories recognize the building as then being home to Western Pioneer Insurance. And according to the 1963-64 city directory, the Ace Realty Company was then operating at the same location.
By 1965, the building was vacant.
In about 1966, Fred S. Tanihara opened the Kami Shop, a beauty shop at 2224 10th St.
Tanihara, who then living at 2011 10th St., was among the various Japanese residents of the area at that time.
Peggy K. Saika, who began operating the Kami Shop from its inception, was recognized in city directories as the business’s owner from 1967 to 1975.
Clarence R. Saika has been the proprietor of the Kami Shop since 1976, and Margie Fukushima is the business’s longtime manager.

2230 10th St.

The address of 2230 10th St. dates back to as early as 1896, when a Southern Pacific Co. employee named Wilhelm “William” Braunlin was residing in a home at that site.
In late 1958 or early 1959, the Japantown business, New Eagle Drug Co., relocated to a store space inside a then-new structure at the address of 2230 10th St.
A city building inspector’s card, dated Oct. 22, 1958, refers to the Pacific Neon Co.’s creation of a “New Eagle Drug” sign for 2230 10th St.
The predecessor of that business was the Eagle Drug Co., which was founded in about 1912 at 1215 4th St. (a then-future location of the L & M Company) in Japantown.
The company was owned by the Japanese-born T. Miyakawa, who then resided at 1210 3rd St.
The New Eagle Drug Co., which was last owned by Takuhei Iseri, remained in business until as late as 1962 and was replaced by the Japanese confectionery store, Osaka-Ya, in 1963.
In 2013, a long 50th anniversary banner was placed inside the store behind its sales counter.
However, that anniversary represents only the business’s 10th Street years.
Research for this article revealed that a business named Osakaya Confectionery was operating at 1217 3rd St. as early as 1927.
City directories for the years, 1929 and 1930, recognize Yasujiro Wakashino as the business’s proprietor.
Shizuma Shikasho was the owner of Osakaya Confectionery from about 1931 to about 1933, and Wakashino was the proprietor again from about 1934 to about 1942.
For at least the final year of the business, just prior to the internment, Shikasho was employed as a candy maker at Osakaya Confectionery.
Following World War II, in about 1947, Shikasho opened Osakaya Rice Cake bakery/food products business at 300 P St.
By 1949, Shikasho had moved his business to 1318 4th St. in Japantown.
Shikasho continued to operate Osakaya Rice Cake at that address until about 1962.
The business was acquired by the Sacramento-born Kenji (Sato) Nakatani (1929-2009) and his Japanese-born wife, Asako Nakatani (1925-1990), and relocated to 2230 10th St., where it became known simply as Osaka-Ya.
Kenji and Asako’s daughter, Linda Nakatani, said that Osaka-Ya was relocated to its present location of 2215 10th St. in 1997.
Like many people who are familiar with Osaka-Ya, Joey Loueks, one of the business’s employees, is quick to speak about the store’s popular handmade Japanese confections, mochi and manju.
“[Mochi and manju are] very popular,” Loueks said. “(Los Angeles) is another big place where they sell mochi and manju, and people come up here (to Osaka-Ya) from there and tell me like nobody can beat this place.”
Furthermore, the business’s continuously sends its products to various places in and outside of California.
Loueks said that in addition to Osaka-Ya’s Japanese pastries, the business also serves hot food on Saturdays and Sundays.
And Loueks added that the business is also a grocery store with “all different types of snacks imported from Japan.”
From April to the end of October or November each year, Osaka-Ya sells shaved ice, with homemade syrup. And because of the popularity of that treat, during summer months, long lines have been known to form from the business’s outdoor shaved ice window.
Linda Nakatani, a 1979 John F. Kennedy High School graduate who began helping at the store during her childhood, expressed her appreciation for her parents’ efforts with the business.
“I’m really proud of what’s going on at that store,” Linda said. “I’m really glad what my mom and dad left.”
As for the featured address of 2230 10th St., Wireless World, a MetroPCS prepaid wireless service business, has been operating at that site since about 2006.